Offshore oil and gas leases produced $10 billion in federal revenue only a few years ago. Today that number is zero, a consequence of the Obama administration’s reaction to last year’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the resulting moratorium on production in the region.

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) says it’s a huge mistake for the federal government to forgo the money — and the jobs that result from the offshore leases. Writing for Roll Call today, Vitter outlines the extent of the problem:

Not surprisingly, the financial scope of these bad policies reaches far beyond Washington, D.C. Under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, energy-producing states along the Gulf Coast receive a share of revenues from certain lease sales. But if there are no lease sales, then there are no revenues. This puts further strain on states that are already struggling to make ends meet.

Earlier this year, Heritage and the National Center for Policy Analysis documented the anticipated loss of revenue from the lack of lease sales. The decline in new drilling permits also means less money from royalty payments by oil and gas companies.

“Allowing access for exploration and creating an efficient regulatory process that allows energy projects to move forward in a timely manner will not only increase revenue through more royalties, leases, and rent; it will also create jobs and help lower energy prices in the process,” Loris writes. “These are sensible policy ideas with or without a debt crisis, but given the fiscal situation, this is a no-brainer.”

Vitter, along with Rep. Jeff Landry (R-LA), met with Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Director Michael Bromwich today. The meeting didn’t result in much progress, however. Vitter bemoaned that the Obama officials offered “the same old company line.”

In an effort to increase the pace of permitting in the Gulf, Vitter vowed to continue blocking Rebecca Wodder’s confirmation to serve as assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks for the Department of Interior. Vitter wants to the agency to approve hundreds of drilling leases that will expire this year.